1. Narrative Theory Comparison Table
Video & About Tsvetan Todorov Vladimir Propp Claude Levi Roland Barthes
Director Strauss
Artist This video is about Trey Songz Equilibrium – Trey Songz is living Villain – The Other Girl The Binary Opposites in My interpretation of this
Trey Songz – staying at a hotel with his the perfect life whereby he has a he’s having an affair this video are as film is that Trey Songz is
Last Time girlfriend but not actually girlfriend by day and another girl with because she follows: faced with reality when he
wanting to because he’s by night. He does however, know wants him to continue has to stay at a particular
Genre having affair with the girl that that it’s not right yet tries to keep going behind his Good/Bad – The hotel with his girlfriend.
R’n’B works there. Throughout the the secret from his girlfriend girlfriends back. girlfriend is the loyal Trey Songz does not want
video we see him with his whilst being fair to the other girl. one whereas Trey Songz to stay there whereas his
Director girlfriend and another girl Princess – In some is trustworthy yet tries girlfriend who is unfamiliar
N/A which shows that he really Disequilibrium – When his way his girlfriend is to resolve the issue by thinks it s fine because it’s
doesn’t know what he wants girlfriend picks up on the girls the princess because letting the girl know a hotspot. Whilst being
despite knowing what is right. attitude whilst their together and she needs protection that it’s over and the with one girl, he’s thinking
The title of the song does eventually finds out that he is from this girl who last time. about another (and visa
however let us know that this cheating on her by following him wants to take her versa) but deep down he
is the ‘last time’ in which he to another hotel room. boyfriend. Girl/Boy – The girl knows this has to stop. This
will have an affair. wants the boy but the is so that he doesn’t hurt
Resolution/New Equilibrium – The Hero – Trey Songz boy wants to break up his girlfriend.
Trey Songz goes to the girl that he who stops having an what they have because
is having a affair with one last affair it’s too risky as he has a Another interpretation of
time to let her know that it’s over girlfriend. this music video would be
but on his departure is met with I found that the that Trey Songz is living
his girlfriend who is deeply upset. characters didn’t fit Happy/Sad – The two different lives and
exactly into Propp’s girlfriend is happy with leading on two different
character roles. Trey Songz whereas the girls which is not fair
other girl is because one will get hurt.
disheartened because He also deserves what
he has a girlfriend and happens to him because
cannot have that honest he’s cheated and lied.

2. relationship with one
another.
Artist Michael Jackson is shown This video changes throughout to Villain – The Werecat The Binary Opposites in My interpretation of this
driving into the forest with a portray both equilibrium and and Michael Jackson in this video are as film is that Michael Jackson
Michael young girl who seems to be his disequilibrium at numerous parts the form of a zombie follows: is shown in different states
Jackson - date. During his time in the in the video, I identified that it portraying him to be
Thriller forest, he begins to express doesn’t fit into Todorov’s theory Hero – Michael Girl/Boy – The girl positive and negative.
that he is different compared much like others do. Jackson in human appears innocent and Whilst trying to be a
Genre to other guys. Before long, he form scared. Whereas the normal guy who wants to
Funk/Disco transforms into a werecat and Equilibrium – Michael Jackson is boy is shown to be be accepted he
tries to attack the girl. We then shown with a young girl driving Princess – His Date brave. uncontrollably changes
Director come to realise, that it was into the forest. They appear to be (The Young Girl) into a werecat when there
John Landis actually a scene from the film getting along really well and Bad/Good – The is a full moon which is what
‘Thriller’ that Michael and his enjoying each other’s company. In this music video, werecat and the makes him different.
date are watching in the Michael is also shown asking the there are only three zombies are bad and
cinema. After leaving the young girl out and giving a ring to characters that have Michael Jackson and his Action – Michael Jackson
cinema the two are shown make their relationship official. been used in date are good. and his date are being
walking down a foggy road accordance to Propp’s captured by the zombies,
which ends up to be an actual Disequilibrium – We are theory. Weak/Strong – The girl the girl running away out of
thriller when the two become immediately faced with the is portrayed as the weak terror and having to be
surround by zombies. disruption of the video whereby character who screams saved.
However, Michael Jackson Michael says he’s not like other a lot and Michael
becomes one of them and is guys and is different. As a full Jackson is portrayed as Enigma – The scenes
shown performing the famous moon appears Michael the strong character cutting from a scene in the
‘thriller’ dance. This is followed transforms into a werecat who that isn’t afraid. film to a modern day movie
by all of the zombies hunting attacks the young girl. theatre to a house that
the young girl down after she makes everything into a
makes her escape. When she is Resolution/New Equilibrium – dream.
finally captured and When we realise that it is actually
surrounded by all of them, a film that is being watched in a Symbolic & Semic - There
Michael Jackson reverts into cinema, and the two people that are numerous
human form and we come to were in the film are shown as connotations and
understand that it was all a normal young people on a date. denotation in this music
dream. video.

3. Disequilibrium – The two become
surrounded by zombies after Cultural – The audience can
passing the cemetery. Whilst recognise the movie
under attack, there is another theatre, Michael Jackson
disruption which is Michael and his date because it
Jackson turning into a zombie. takes place in the lives of
young people and couples.
Resolution/New Equilibrium –
Michael Jackson saves the young
girl and takes her home.
Artist My interpretation of this
This video draws away from Equilibrium – Carly notices this Hero – Carly because The Binary Opposites in music video is that Carly is
Carly Rae your classic and typical boy guy from her window, who she she is seeking this video are as your typical young girl who
Jepsen - Call meets girl story. It is about instantly takes interest in and something which is follows: likes the guy next door. She
Me Maybe Carly who develops a crush on tries to get his attention. the guy to take doesn’t know much about
her neighbour who she first interest in her. Girl/Boy – The girl is him but immediately thinks
sees mowing his lawn. As she Disequilibrium – Whilst trying to interested in the boy she will have a chance.
Genre peers through her bedroom get his attention, she Princess – The buy the boy isn’t However, her intentions
Pop window she seems him embarrassingly drops off the car. neighbour who she is because he is don’t go to plan because
mowing the lawn and cannot interested in. homosexual. he is interested in someone
Director get enough. As a result, she Resolution /New Equilibrium- else and doesn’t even like
Ben Knechtel tries to get his attention in a Carly discovers him helping her Helper – The members Outside/Inside – Inside girls.
number of ways such as and to her advantage, performs from her band who Carly has a big crush on
washing the car outside her to him and attempts to give him encourages her to the guy and is shown Another interpretation
house, where he is also. her number. However, she finds wash the car which in lusting over him. would be that she is subtly
Unfortunately, she drops off out he is homosexual when he turn will make him Outside the guy is stalking him which is
the car whilst posing in various gives his number to the guy in her notice her. getting on with mowing emphasised through her
sexual ways on her car, to band. the lawn and is spying on him and hiding
clean it. Nonetheless, she completely unaware of when he looks, in order to
eventually grabs his attention Carly liking him. not get caught out.
when he helps her and
performs to him in her rock Enigma – The whole
band. Eventually, when she storyline acts as a enigma
thinks everything’s going well because it provides the
she writes down her number audience with a number of
yet, finds him showing interest things to think about

4. elsewhere when he gives his throughout to eventually
number to one of her band twist the whole storyline
members. when we find out the
neighbour is homosexual.
Artist This video begins with the Equilibrium – The young male Hero – The Young Guy The Binary Opposites in My interpretation of this
present day and flashbacks on living a decent life and making a who is still trying to this video are as video is that it simply
2pac – Ghetto to what happened previously. living for himself in the best way figure out life and the follows: portrays life as a young
Gospel During this video, we see a life he’s able to. Life is also good right route to go male on the streets, trying
of a young man who is a because he has friends and family down. Good/Bad – The guy is to make money for his
Genre father, has a girlfriend and a (girlfriend, son and mother) portrayed to be good in family. It also portrays the
Hip-Hop loving mother. However, he is around him. The Villain – The Guy terms of trying to make negative side to this type of
on the streets trying to make a who shoots him money to provide for lifestyle which is death.
Director living with his friends which is Disequilibrium – When the young his family. But the One symbolic element to
N/A what is dominantly portrayed. male is shot by a car driving by. The Helper – The love person who shoots him this film is the church
One night he is shown alone from his family is bad because he end which is reference to God
eating outside a food place Resolution – The message to find his life. in which the young male
and is unfortunately shot by a God before it’s too late and end should turn to. This could
drive by car. This brings upon the war in the streets before Happy/Sad – The mum be the message that is
much heartache for his mum everyone dies. is shown to be happy trying to be showcased.
who is deeply saddened and when sitting at the table
distraught by his death. At the at home, looking at her Another interpretation of
end of the video, the mother is son. By the end of the this music video could be
shown outside the church on video, she is deeply the reality of death which
her son’s funeral day and spots saddened by his death. everyone thinks deeply
him across the road – where about at the beginning of
he would normally sell drugs Inside/Outside – Inside the film as they circle the
and make his money. This he seems to be this young man. It also
however is all a figure of her loving person for his highlights topics such as
imagination on what she family who is genuine. poverty, crime and drug
would like but can no longer Outside he is portrayed addiction.
have because he is dead. as a thug selling drugs.